1981 San Diego Chargers season


The San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and its 22nd overall. The team failed to improve on their 11–5 record from 1980 and finished 10-6. In the playoffs, they beat the Dolphins in a game known as the Epic in Miami and lost to the Bengals in a game known as the Freezer Bowl.
1981 was the second straight season in which the Chargers reached the AFC Championship Game, as well as their second consecutive loss.
Running back Chuck Muncie enjoyed his best season, running for 1,144 yards and 19 touchdowns, tying the then-NFL season record for rushing touchdowns.
During this season, the Chargers lost two key players by way of trade. Before Week 3, wide receiver John Jefferson was dealt to the Green Bay Packers, while defensive end Fred Dean would be dealt to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers by Week 5. The season was chronicled on September 18, 2008 for , as one of the five greatest NFL teams to never win the Super Bowl.

1981 NFL Draft

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at Cleveland Browns

Week 4 at Denver Broncos

Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 6: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 7: at Baltimore Colts

Week 8: at Chicago Bears

Week 9: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 10: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 12: at Oakland Raiders












Stats

Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills










Stats
The game came down to the wire. A late interception from Buccaneers Quarterback Doug Williams at the Chargers own 1 yard-line sealed the deal for San Diego

Week 16: vs. Oakland Raiders








Last regular season game of NFL season.

Playoffs

The AFC Championship Game was played on Jan. 10, 1982, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The temperature was -9 °F with a wind chill of -59 °F, known in NFL lore as the "Freezer Bowl," and is the coldest game in the league's history. Quarterback Dan Fouts completed 15 out of 28 passes for 185 yards as the Chargers fell to the Bengals 27-7.

Game Summaries

Standings